Course in Ethics in Procurement Transparency
Online 300-hour course in ethics in procurement transparency. 6 modules covering Directive 2009/81/EC (defence and security procurement), Law 24/2011 on public sector contracts in defence and security, and the Public Sector Procurement Platform (PLACSP). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics in Procurement Transparency — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €797 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the legal framework for transparency applicable to defence public procurement.
Distinguish between legitimately classified information and unjustified opacity.
Analyse the ethical dilemmas that secrecy poses in procurement procedures.
Identify integrity risks at each phase of the procurement cycle.
Apply open data standards to the publication of contracts.
Design transparency measures proportionate to security needs.
Draft a transparency improvement plan for a contracting authority.
Who it's for
- Public procurement technician in defence seeking to specialise in Ethics in Procurement Transparency.
- Institutional transparency officer seeking to specialise in Ethics in Procurement Transparency.
- Integrity analyst in public procurement seeking to specialise in Ethics in Procurement Transparency.
- Public procurement auditor seeking to specialise in Ethics in Procurement Transparency.
- Regulatory compliance adviser in defence seeking to specialise in Ethics in Procurement Transparency.
- Researcher in defence sector governance seeking to specialise in Ethics in Procurement Transparency.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter defence public administration.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2009/81/EC (defence and security procurement)
- Law 24/2011 on public sector contracts in defence and security
- Law 19/2013 on transparency, access to public information and good governance
- Law 9/1968 on Official Secrets
- United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
- Law 2/2023 on the protection of whistleblowers
- Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Why this sector is less transparent than others1.2Exceptions for national security and their scope1.3The cost of opacity: price, quality and trust1.4Stakeholders with an interest in information1.5Parliamentary control of spending1.6The role of audit courts1.7Investigative journalism and access to data1.8International sector transparency indices1.9Public procurement vocabulary1.10Exercise: locating the public information of a programme
2.1Applicable public procurement rules2.2European directive on defence contracts2.3Negotiated procedures and their justification2.4Government-to-government contracts2.5Right of access to public information2.6Limits: classification, trade secrets and personal data2.7Publicity of tenders and awards2.8Contract registers and public platforms2.9Appeals and review of decisions2.10Practice: requesting and evaluating public information
3.1What legitimately justifies classification3.2Over-classification and its democratic cost3.3Publishing enough without compromising security3.4Anonymisation and aggregated publication3.5Deferred transparency and declassification3.6Conflict between competition and confidentiality3.7Industrial interests and local employment3.8Political pressure on technical decisions3.9Responsibility of the official and the technician3.10Debate: how far should a programme be published?
4.1Defining needs and tailored requirements4.2Preliminary studies and capture of the buyer4.3Evaluation of bids and manipulable criteria4.4Variations and cost overruns during execution4.5Receipt and verification of supply4.6Maintenance and supplier dependency4.7Revolving doors and conflicts of interest4.8Intermediaries and improper payments4.9Red flags by phase of the cycle4.10Practice: auditing a simulated file
5.1Integrity pacts and social witnesses5.2Publication of data in open formats5.3Lobbying and meeting registers5.4Declarations of interests and assets5.5Whistleblowing channels and whistleblower protection5.6External audit and peer review5.7Effective parliamentary control5.8Civil society participation5.9Transparency indicators and how to measure them5.10Practice: designing an integrity pact
6.1Choosing a real procurement programme6.2Inventory of available public information6.3Analysis of applicable obligations6.4Identification of transparency gaps6.5Analysis of integrity risks6.6Proposal of measures and publication6.7Analysis of legitimate limits to access6.8Monitoring indicators6.9Study report6.10Defence of the work
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Public Sector Procurement Platform (PLACSP), advanced Excel, Power BI, Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practicals are based on the analysis of real published procurement files, case studies on access to classified information, and workshops on ethical dilemmas. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the legal framework for transparency applicable to defence public procurement.
Distinguish between legitimately classified information and unjustified opacity.
Analyse the ethical dilemmas that secrecy poses in procurement procedures.
Identify integrity risks at each phase of the procurement cycle.
Apply open data standards to the publication of contracts.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Public Sector Procurement Platform (PLACSP), advanced Excel, Power BI, Python (pandas). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
An own SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Please check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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